Flexible pipe.



A. SUNDH.

FLEXIBLE PIPE.

APPLICATION FILED MMI. 3. I9I5.

1,179,577. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

WTNESSES: INI/EN 70H fama/JQ AUGUST SUNDH, .0F HASTINGS-UPON-HUDSON, NEW YORK.

FLEXIBLE PIPE.

lSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1s, 191e.

Application mea man a, isis. sensi my. 11,747.

brakes and the heatingV system. Such pipe lmust be made to stand rough usage Without leaking and to be flexible. My. pipe is very strong and `cannot leak. The wearing points arereduced to a minimum. My pipe differs from all other flexible pipe in being free from joints and necessary packing, which are ordinarily used, and which Wear out rapidly, and still has all the advantages of `spirally wound wire or strip pipe in reference to wear.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, I have shown four figures. l

Figure l is a part sectional elevation view of a section of my pipe; Fig. 2 is a part sectional view of?y another 'embodiment of my invention; Fig. 3 is a vsectional elevational view of still another embodiment of my invention; and Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view showing a modification of 'Fig'. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in Fig. 1,1 have shown a corrugated seamless metal pipe A, circular in cross section, and comprisingr spiral corrugations, B, extending its* vntire length. These corrugations are loop-shaped in cross section, this shape being preferable for my purpose, giving a greater flexibility to the pipe, and imparting to the pipe the properties of a diaphragm. V`On the inside of this ypipe and fitting snugly the outwardly extending corrugations'thereof, is a spiral wire, C, round in cross section, and of the proper pitch to correspond with the pitch of the spiral.

of the corrugations of the pipe. Surrounding the pipe A is a. wire spiral D of .the proper pitch to correspond with the pitch of the corrugations in the pipe.. This wire spiral is V-shaped in cross section aand lies in the inwardly extending corrugations of 'the bottom of the pipe A, but a clearance is left between the wireA and the bottom of the corrugatins.

Fig. 2 is identical with Fig. 1, excepting that I have here slibwn a multiplicity of spiral corrugations in the pipe A,"as well as a multiplicityl of spiral internal and -e' ternal wires. The corrugations 'in the pipe A are indicated by B, B'; B, the inner wire spirals. C, C', C, and the outer wirel spirals, D, D, D. This arrangement increases the tensilitv of the structure, whichV may be necessary in some eases.

Fig. 3 is identical in general with Fig. 2; but in this figure, Ihave shown a filling between the bottom of the outer wire4 spirals, D, D', D, and the bottom of the corrugations in the pipe A.` This' filling, desi nated E, may be loose twisted hemp cor asbestos, or any suitable material. This filling is loosely laid in this space and is for the purpose of helping to. retain the shape of the corrugations of the pipe A. In the case of the use of this filling the pipe will not radiate heat a's quickly when the pipe is used for heating systems. vided a wearing strip or strips, F, between the wire spirals, D, D. etc., and the corrugations, B, B, etc. These wearing strips are V-shaped in cross section, and preferably made of zinc or some metal softer than the coi-rugations of the pipe A, and will reduce the wear on both the corrugations of the pipe and the surrounding wire spirals D, D', tc.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modification of these wearing strips, indicated by F. In this figure the strips instead of being V- shaped are semicircular incross section. This shaped strip is bent over the back of the coi-rugations in the pipe A and the V- shaped wirerspirals rest on the strip. The nature of the wearing strips in both Figs. 3 and 4, is the same, but the strips of Fig. 4 is more advantageous than those in Fig.v 3. In Fig. 3 the wear comes between the wearing strips and the corrugations of the pipe A, whereas in Fig. 4, the wear will take place between the strips and the Wire spiral. This wear will not be as destructive to the whole apparatus as wear on the corrugationsof the pipe, as the latter should be protected just as much as possible from any I have prowea r, whereas some wear on the wire spiral will not matter much.

In the construction I have shown and herein described, it shouldbe noted that as the pipe is bent the inside round wire spirals will open up slightly on one side. The V-shaped wire spirals on the outside of the corrugations will be drawn in between the corrugations, on one side, and shoved out on the other, while the corrugations of the pipe will yield enough to accommodate the bending. Or in other words the wire spirals gives and takes properly and the corrugated pipe between the spirals will yield enough any way the pipe is bent. I am' aware of course that flexible pipe made of wire spirals is old; corrugated pipe is old; but both kinds of pipe are unsatisfactory. The pipe made of wire spirals leaks, while the corrugated pipe cannot bel made fiexible enough without sacrificing so much of the strength of the pipe that it breaks quickly. lVith my structure I have overcome leakage and obtained a strong structure.

It is to be understood thatwhere I specify wire spirals that wire strips made in proper shape may be used. For instance the outside V-shaped wire spirals I vhave shown might be made up of V-shaped strips, or the inner wire spirals might be semicircular in cross section instead of circular as I have shown. It.is to be further understood that the cori ugations of the pipe may be of any suitable shape which might be found to be best It is to be. understood also that I may use steel or any other .metal wire, although I have found that phosphor bronze wire is the most suitable for the inside spiral, phosphor bronze or copper for the corrugated pipe, and a softer metal, as zinc for the wearing strip. The outside wire spiral may be of steel or phosphor bronze or any suitable metal. Where heat like steam is tr.ns mittcd through the pipe, it may be necessary to put an outsideI covering over the pipe to keep from burning the hands, but I have not shown an outside covering as the nature of the covering would r epcnd on the use to which the pipe is put, and thc covering (loes not form part of my invention.

In all events I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction and arrangement of parts shown, has Iiust been stated, various changes might bc made therein without departing from .the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is zl. In a flexible metallic pipe, the combination of spil-ally wound wire spirals and a tube with corrugations, said corrugations forming two loops, one loop facing inwardly, and being free .from contact with said spirals but held in position by said and also that single' spirals, and one facing outwardly of the wall of the tube, the outwardly facing 10o bein interposed between said wire spira s at a l times. l

2. In a flexible metallic pipe, the combination of one inner wire spiral, and a' corrugated pipe iitting over said wire spiral, and an outer wire spiral surrounding said first named spiral and holding the corrugated pipe in contact with the inner wire spiral. V.

3. In a flexible metallic pi the combination of one inner wire spira a corrugated pipe fitting over said wire spiral, one outside V shaped wire s ital surrounding said corrugated pipe an holding the outside corrugation of said pipe in contact with the inside wire spiral if the pipe be either straight or bent.

4. In a flexible metallic pipe, the combination of one inner round wire Spiral., a`pipe with corrugations to fit over said rnd Wire spiral, one outside V shaped wire i'ral surrounding said corrugated pipe and olding said outside corrugation of said pipe in contact with the inside round wire spiral if the pipe is either straight or bent.

5. In a flexible metallic pipe, the combination of one inner wire spiral and one outer wire spiral, a corrugated pipe interposed between said two spirils, the inward formed corrugations in said pipe being formed in a free loop, and filament in said corrugations.

6. In a flexible metallic pipe, the combination of one inner wire splral and one outer wire spiral, a corrugated pipe interposed between said two splrals, the inward formed corrugations in said pipe being formed in a free loop, the two wire spirals being adapted to coperate and maintain said inward formed free loop both when the pipe is straight and when it is bent.

7. In a flexible metallic pipe, the combination of one inner wire spiral and one outer wire spiral, a corrugated pipe interposed between said two spirals, the inward formed corrugations of said pipe being formed in a free loop, the two wire spirals being adapted to coperate and retain said inward formed free loop both when the pipe is straight and when it is bent, and a resili cnt filament lin said loop.

8. In a flexible metallic pipe, the. combination of a corrugated tube forming one spiral loop turning outward, and one spiral loop turning inward, a round wire spiral fitting inwardly of the corrugated pipe in the outside loop, and a V shaped spirally wwound wire splral wedged against the outstrip of softer material than tbe corrugated pipe und interposed between tluoutside wire spiral sind tbe said pipe.

1U. ln :i flexible memlliv pipe, the ('ombination of an iusidfA wire spiral sind :in out sido wire spiral, a corrugated pipo intorpoeed between said spirals.. :1nd u .strip of softer material than tbe worrugutod pipe and intvrpmed between tbe outsidll ire spiral und [be Suid pipe.

ll. lnu flexible metnllif' pipe. tb( combination of one inner wire .spil'ul :ind one outer wire spiral. :i corrugated pip(l interposed between szl'lil two spirals. tbe two wire spirals coi'nbinwl being tbe support of tlle corrugutone4 :ind nmintnining u fre(- loop. und yielding lilunwnt in .Suid trl-e loop of the outside of tlw bri-ligation ol' tlux pipe. 11min tained in plnmb v ont of ibo wire spirals.

111. In :i flexible pipe. tlm vonibinntion ol' spirally nound wire pilmls und :l Vorrufzitml tube infvipo-iod between said spirals. seid f-ol'l'ugzxted tub(l formingv loops turning.r inuurd und loops turniu; y outward.y the two wire spirals being in frictional engagement with one of said loops, and cooperating to maintain onfI loop free to yield when the pipe is bent in different directions.

I5. In a flexible pipe the combination of pirnll v wound wire spirale/and n corrugated tube forming two loops and interposed between said spirals, one of said loops being free from contact with said wire spirals.

14. In a flexible pipe the combination of spirally wound wire spirals and a corrugated tube interposed between said spirals, said vorrugrated tube forming two loops, one of said loops beingr free, the other being in engagement with one wire spiral on the outside und one wire spiral on the inside.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my nume to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUST SUNDH.

\\'itnesses:

\\'Ai:rr.n C. STRANG, JA Mes G. BETHELL. 

